Stealing The Devil's Heart

Chapter Four – Breathless

Elena

I couldn’t contain my excitement. My heart sang with glee. He wasn’t married! Damien was free to belong to me. I could still hope.

As if sensing my feelings, his gray eyes lifted to hold my gaze. This time, they didn’t hold anger or displeasure. But there wasn’t any pleasure either. I couldn’t look away. The cold, distant look on his face made my heart sink. He might be available, but he didn’t want me in his life. Then why did he fight for me? That was a question only Damien could answer. If I could ever muster enough courage to ask him.

There was excitement all around me, but my focus was only on the person sitting opposite. His stare unsettled me. But I tried to evade it to the best of my ability.

“Elena, I hope you’re staying for a few months? What have you planned after this?” asked Uncle Jason.

All eyes were on me, and I felt like vanishing from the table. “I’ll plan it after the wedding, Uncle Jason. Maybe Mom can guide me better.”

“Why don’t you join the family business as an intern? You can join an MBA program alongside,” suggested Grandpa from the head of the table.

“I’m not interested in architecture, Grandpa.”

Alex frowned at me. “You can handle finance.”

I couldn’t decline them. It would be so insulting. “I’ll think about it.”

“So, does that mean you won’t go back to Bern?” Alecia quipped in.

“That would be great, Ellie. Stay, please,” said Ashley.

My eyes flew towards Damien, who still stared at me with the same expression on his face. It was difficult to understand what was going on in his head.

I nodded, not because I was planning a career here. I agreed to stay to evade my dad’s wrath. He would surely be mad at me if he found out what happened here in Beacon.

My gaze flew up to meet Damien’s heated gaze. Did his lips twitch upwards for a moment? Or did I imagine it?

“I’ll stay, but I won’t join the business, please.” I wanted to work in an unknown place as an intern where I could learn and grow based on my capabilities. Getting preferential treatment because my family owned the company wasn’t what I would settle for.

Thankfully, no one argued. They left me alone, and I could hide in peace to enjoy the lavish spread. However much I tried, I couldn’t hide from the pair of stormy gray eyes that held me captive.

He ignored Everly, who sat beside him and chattered nonstop with him in hushed whispers. What was she talking about? I couldn’t catch a thing even though I was seated across from them.

After dinner, I left the place to take a walk around the terrace. I needed air. I had to escape Damien’s heated gaze chasing me wherever I went. He had hardly spoken a normal sentence to me apart from barking orders since the moment we collided. How did he change so much? It was impossible to gauge his mood. The connection I had with him had shattered to pieces the night he rejected me. Now he seemed a stranger to me. Yet I loved him. Yet I couldn’t move on from him.

The familiar views of the Hudson River and the surrounding Mount Beacon had me mesmerized. I inhaled the refreshing evening air, but it was getting colder. A shiver went up my bare arms, but I loved it. The cold air against my skin made me feel alive.

Suddenly the hair at my nape stood up, and a tremor of awareness shot up my body. I instinctively knew someone had followed me here. I was afraid to turn and check. But even after counting to twenty in my head, the person didn’t approach me.

I lost my patience and turned around to check my surroundings. The entire terrace was deserted, but I knew he was there. I could feel him around me. And then I saw him in the farthest corner, leaning against a pillar in the shadows. I didn’t need to see his face. His silhouette was enough for me to recognize him.

His presence unnerved me. Yet I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. Why was he here if he didn’t want to talk to me?

I couldn’t breathe. I had to run. Why couldn’t he talk to me?

I blinked out of my dazed state and whirled around to compose myself. I would go crazy if he stalked me everywhere.

I was about to run when I felt his presence behind me. His warm breath scorched my bare shoulders. My breath hitched as I waited for him to speak.

Footsteps echoed behind me, and soon the entire battalion came up looking for me. Alecia, Ashley, Erica, Everly, my cousins April and Amelia flocked around. April and Amelia were the daughters of my mother’s younger brother, Jared Seeger and his wife, Stephanie Seeger.

“Ellie, what the hell are you doing here all alone?” Alecia dragged me along with her.

I looked around desperately for Damien. He had been here a few seconds ago. Did I imagine him?

“Aunt Jess sent us to get you. Dylan has set the floor on fire. You should join in the fun, girl.” Ashley scolded me as they hijacked me back to the party.

“I’m not in the mood to dance, please. I’ll watch you.”

“C’mon, don’t be a spoilsport.” They weren’t taking no for an answer, forcing me to do a group dance with them.

The music was lively, the ambiance vibrant, and soon I caught on with the infectious mood. For the first time in four years, I laughed more; I lived a little. It was surprising to see what your family could do to you.

The music ended, and the group dispersed.

Before I could walk away, a throat cleared behind me. “Will you dance with me, Lena?” His voice was a husky whisper in my ear, sending goosebumps along my bare arm.

Was this a dream?

I stiffened, my entire body aware of his nearness.

I wanted to decline him. No, I didn’t want to dance with him. I wanted to forget him. But I was left dumbstruck on the dance floor, unable to move or respond. My heart thumped wildly in its cage. Could he hear it?

He stretched his arm in front of me, engulfing me in his embrace. The moment I placed my hand in his, a spark of electric current shot up my body. I couldn’t move.

His other arm wrapped around me, and he slowly swayed to the soft tunes playing in the background. The world stopped revolving around me as I drowned in the moment of a lifetime. His warmth and heady scent gripped my senses.

I was breathless.

For four years, I had tried hard to forget him. For four years, I had pined for him. But he had completely forgotten me. Then what changed now? Could I hope?

My hands trembled under his. I could hear someone calling his name from far away.

It was Everly.

With a jolt, I came to my senses and tried to break free. What was I doing? How could I forget that night when he had rejected me and kissed Veronica?

As if sensing my intention to flee, he whirled me around to face him. His dark gray eyes pierced into my soul. “Why do you run from me, Lena?”

“I don’t.” I blinked and placed my free hand over his chest to push him away. But he pulled me flush against his hard chest.

I gasped and looked up to search his hooded eyes. It was after four long years, I was seeing him from so near. A deep cut across his forehead disappeared into his hairline. It wasn’t there the last time I had seen him four years ago. It was faint, but I wanted to run my fingers along the wound and kiss it better.

He was even more gorgeous than before: the chiseled jawline, prominent chin, beautiful, sharp nose, and long eyelashes sweeping over his cheeks. I didn’t want to glance at those kissable lips that had haunted me for four years. Did he love Veronica? Was that why he had kissed her that night? Did she break his heart by choosing his brother?

Gone was that boyish charm he used to exude years ago. Now he was a powerful, rough man, mysterious and unfathomable.

“How have you been, Lena?” His gaze roamed over every inch of my face as if memorizing them.

“I’m good.” I tore my gaze away and focused on the tattoos on his neck.

“Not that generic answer.” His gaze scorched me, drowning me in it. I wanted to lean into his touch, to hope for a brighter tomorrow with him. But I was scared.

“It’s the truth.” I was a pathetic liar. He smiled, not believing me at all.

His eyes dropped to my lips, to the bare skin on my shoulders, devouring me. It made me ache for him.

“Damien, what’s wrong with you? I’ve been calling you for so long. Can’t you hear me? How can you flirt with her?” Everly stood beside us with her hands on her hips, glaring at the two of us.

Damien released me with a scowl and walked away with her, without a word or a glance.